Mobile wireless communications device for hearing and/or speech impaired user

ABSTRACT

A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and transceiver carried by the housing for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals carrying communications data of speech. A processor is coupled to the transceiver for processing the communications data as speech that is transmitted and received to and from the transceiver. A keyboard and display is carried by the housing and connected to the processor. A speech-to-text and text-to-speech module converts communications data as speech received from the transceiver to text that is displayed on the display and converting text that is typed by a user on the keyboard in the communications data as speech to be transmitted from the transceiver as an RF signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications devices,and more particularly, to mobile wireless communications devices thatcan be used by hearing and/or speech impaired users.

BACKGROUND

Mobile wirelesses communications devices, such as cellular telephones,are now commonplace throughout the world. Most of these communicationsdevices, however, are designed for users without hearing or speechimpairments. When using a typical mobile wireless communications devicein a normal phone conversation, both parties as sender and receiver mustbe able to hear and talk clearly. This causes a challenge for hearingimpaired or speech challenged users. As society grows more complicatedand interrelated, the needs of the handicapped, for example, the hearingimpaired and/or speech challenged user, are increasingly beingaccommodated. One known system for accommodating a hearing impaired orspeech challenged person uses a live agent as an intermediary, allowingthe sender and caller to communicate to each other through this liveagent. For example, the live agent receives text from a hearing impaireduser and speaks to the other user, while receiving spoken voice from theother user. The live agent types text for the hearing impaired user andspeaks text typed from that user to another. This is not an automaticprocess.

As voice-to-text technology evolves, for example, as associated withpersonal computers, the processing capability has increased such that itis possible to write down the spoken text in real-time usingcomputer-based technologies and narrate a written text using computers.These technologies should be leveraged for use with mobile wirelesscommunications devices as an aid for hearing or speech impaired people,thus eliminating the requirement for a live agent as a third partyintermediary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description of the invention whichfollows, when considered in light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a mobile device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a communicationsubsystem component of the mobile device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an example block diagram of a node of a wireless network.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating components of a host system inone example configuration for use with the wireless network of FIG. 3and the mobile device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the example embodiment of the mobile deviceshown in FIG. 1 and showing greater details of other device subsystemsthat include a text-to-speech/speech-to-text converter module, LEDmodule, and a video/webcam module that all operate in conjunction withthe handicap module associated with the operating system.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a mobile wireless communicationsdevice that incorporates the functional components shown in the blockdiagram of the mobile device in FIG. 5 and used with the hearing and/orspeech impaired user.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the mobile wireless communicationsdevice shown in FIG. 6 in which a set up wizard for a handicap option isdisplayed.

FIG. 8 is another front elevation view of the mobile wirelesscommunications device similar to FIG. 7 and showing the various handicapoptions in the set up wizard for hearing and/or speech-impaired users.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated amongthe figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the example embodiments described herein.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the example embodiments described herein may be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not toobscure the example embodiments described herein. Also, the descriptionis not to be considered as limiting the scope of the example embodimentsdescribed herein.

A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing andtransceiver carried by the housing for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency (RF) signals carrying communications data of speech. Aprocessor is coupled to the transceiver for processing thecommunications data as speech that is transmitted and received to andfrom the transceiver. A keyboard and display is carried by the housingand connected to the processor. A speech-to-text and text-to-speechmodule converts communications data as speech received from thetransceiver to text that is displayed on the display and converting textthat is typed by a user on the keyboard in the communications data asspeech to be transmitted from the transceiver as an RF signal.

The display provides an interface and the processor is configured fordisplaying a set up screen having a handicap option that is userselected for enabling the speech-to-text and text-to-speech module. Thehandicap option includes a default setting in one aspect. The deviceconfiguration can, in one example, have a handicap option with the phoneset-up such that it knows the current user cannot hear. Upon receivingan incoming call or communication, pressing the receive buttonautomatically invokes the handicap feature for speech-to-text andtext-to-speech.

In another aspect, a speaker is carried by the housing and coupled tothe processor for outputting audio speech received as communicationsdata in addition to displaying the speech as text on the display. In yetanother aspect, a key can be depressed in a telephone call thatautomatically generates a signal as communications data for speechindicative of a greeting in a telephone call. A key can be depressedthat automatically generates a signal as communications data for speechindicative of ending a telephone call. In another aspect, a lightemitting diode (LED) is carried by the housing and coupled to theprocessor, which is configured for generating a signal to the LED foractivating the LED and displaying a light pattern indicative of speech.A plurality of LED's can be carried by the housing, each of a differentcolor from another LED such that a color-coded light pattern isindicative of speech.

In yet another aspect, the speech-to-text and text-to-speech module isformed as a speech-to-text and text-to-speech processing circuit coupledto the processor. In yet another aspect, it is an applicationcooperating with operating software. The processor can be configured forconverting speech to a virtual attendant displayed on the display thatdisplays video of sign language patterns indicative of the receivedspeech. A camera can be carried by the housing and coupled to theprocessor and configured for receiving images of a user allowing a userto transmit sign language video or view lips of a virtual attendant forlip reading. The display can also display different options for choosingLED patterns to be displayed or a virtual attendant.

A method aspect is also set forth.

There now follows a description relative to FIGS. 1-4 of an exampleembodiment of a mobile device, such as a mobile wireless communicationsdevice shown in FIG. 6, communication subsystem component of the mobiledevice, a node in a wireless network that can be operable with thewireless device and components of a host system for use with thewireless network of FIG. 3 and the mobile device of FIG. 1. After adescription of those components relative to FIGS. 1-4, a furtherdescription will follow of examples for a mobile wireless communicationsdevice that can be used by the hearing or speech-impaired and includes ahandicap option as part of a set up wizard for a user interface. FIG. 5shows the additional device subsystems for accommodating hearing andspeech-impaired users. Menu options that are displayed in a set upwizard for hearing and speech-impaired users are illustrated withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

The example embodiments described herein generally relate to a mobilewireless communication device, hereafter referred to as a mobile device,which can be configured according to an IT policy. It should be notedthat the term IT policy, in general, refers to a collection of IT policyrules, in which the IT policy rules can be defined as being eithergrouped or non-grouped and global or per-user. The terms grouped,non-grouped, global and per-user are defined further below. Examples ofapplicable communication devices include pagers, cellular phones,cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants,computers, laptops, handheld wireless communication devices, wirelesslyenabled notebook computers and the like.

The mobile device is a two-way communication device with advanced datacommunication capabilities including the capability to communicate withother mobile devices or computer systems through a network oftransceiver stations. The mobile device may also have the capability toallow voice communication. Depending on the functionality provided bythe mobile device, it may be referred to as a data messaging device, atwo-way pager, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, awireless Internet appliance, or a data communication device (with orwithout telephony capabilities). To aid the reader in understanding thestructure of the mobile device and how it communicates with otherdevices and host systems, reference will now be made to FIGS. 1-4.

Referring first to FIG. 1, shown therein is a block diagram of anexample embodiment of a mobile device 100. The mobile device 100includes a number of components such as a main processor 102 thatcontrols the overall operation of the mobile device 100. Communicationfunctions, including data and voice communications, are performedthrough a communication subsystem 104. The communication subsystem 104receives messages from and sends messages to a wireless network 200. Inthis example embodiment of the mobile device 100, the communicationsubsystem 104 is configured in accordance with the Global System forMobile Communication (GSM) and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)standards. The GSM/GPRS wireless network is used worldwide and it isexpected that these standards will be superseded eventually by EnhancedData GSM Environment (EDGE) and Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsService (UMTS). New standards are still being defined, but it isbelieved that they will have similarities to the network behaviordescribed herein, and it will also be understood by persons skilled inthe art that the example embodiments described herein are intended touse any other suitable standards that are developed in the future. Thewireless link connecting the communication subsystem 104 with thewireless network 200 represents one or more different Radio Frequency(RF) channels, operating according to defined protocols specified forGSM/GPRS communications. With newer network protocols, these channelsare capable of supporting both circuit switched voice communications andpacket switched data communications.

Although the wireless network 200 associated with mobile device 100 is aGSM/GPRS wireless network in one example implementation, other wirelessnetworks may also be associated with the mobile device 100 in variantimplementations. The different types of wireless networks that may beemployed include, for example, data-centric wireless networks,voice-centric wireless networks, and dual-mode networks that can supportboth voice and data communications over the same physical base stations.Combined dual-mode networks include, but are not limited to, CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA) or CDMA2000 networks, GSM/GPRS networks(as mentioned above), and future third-generation (3G) networks likeEDGE and UMTS. Some other examples of data-centric networks include WiFi802.11, Mobitex™ and DataTAC™ network communication systems. Examples ofother voice-centric data networks include Personal Communication Systems(PCS) networks like GSM and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)systems.

The main processor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such asa Random Access Memory (RAM) 106, a flash memory 108, a display 110, anauxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 112, a data port 114, a keyboard116, a speaker 118, a microphone 120, short-range communications 122 andother device subsystems 124.

Some of the subsystems of the mobile device 100 performcommunication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide“resident” or on-device functions. By way of example, the display 110and the keyboard 116 may be used for both communication-relatedfunctions, such as entering a text message for transmission over thenetwork 200, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or tasklist.

The mobile device 100 can send and receive communication signals overthe wireless network 200 after required network registration oractivation procedures have been completed. Network access is associatedwith a subscriber or user of the mobile device 100. To identify asubscriber, the mobile device 100 requires a SIM/RUIM card 126 (i.e.,Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module) to beinserted into a SIM/RUIM interface 128 in order to communicate with anetwork. The SIM card or RUIM 126 is one type of a conventional “smartcard” that can be used to identify a subscriber of the mobile device 100and to personalize the mobile device 100, among other things. Withoutthe SIM card 126, the mobile device 100 is not fully operational forcommunication with the wireless network 200. By inserting the SIMcard/RUIM 126 into the SIM/RUIM interface 128, a subscriber can accessall subscribed services. Services may include: web browsing andmessaging such as email, voice mail, Short Message Service (SMS), andMultimedia Messaging Services (MMS). More advanced services may include;point of sale, field service and sales force automation. The SIMcard/RUIM 126 includes a processor and memory for storing information.Once the SIM card/RUIM 126 is inserted into the SIM/RUIM interface 128,it is coupled to the main processor 102. In order to identify thesubscriber, the SIM card/RUIM 126 can include some user parameters suchas an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage ofusing the SIM card/RUIM 126 is that a subscriber is not necessarilybound by any single physical mobile device. The SIM card/RUIM 126 maystore additional subscriber information for a mobile device as well,including datebook (or calendar) information and recent callinformation. Alternatively, user identification information can also beprogrammed into the flash memory 108.

The mobile device 100 is a battery-powered device and includes a batteryinterface 132 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 130. Inat least some example embodiments, the battery 130 can be a smartbattery with an embedded microprocessor. The battery interface 132 iscoupled to a regulator (not shown), which assists the battery 130 inproviding power V+ to the mobile device 100. Although current technologymakes use of a battery, future technologies such as micro fuel cells mayprovide the power to the mobile device 100.

The mobile device 100 also includes an operating system 134 and softwarecomponents 136 to 146 which are described in more detail below. Theoperating system 134 and the software components 136 to 146 that areexecuted by the main processor 102 are typically stored in a persistentstore such as the flash memory 108, which may alternatively be aread-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that portions of the operating system134 and the software components 136 to 146, such as specific deviceapplications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile store such as the RAM 106. Other software components can alsobe included, as is well known to those skilled in the art.

The subset of software applications 136 that control basic deviceoperations, including data and voice communication applications, willnormally be installed on the mobile device 100 during its manufacture.Other software applications include a message application 138 that canbe any suitable software program that allows a user of the mobile device100 to send and receive electronic messages. Various alternatives existfor the message application 138 as is well known to those skilled in theart. Messages that have been sent or received by the user are typicallystored in the flash memory 108 of the mobile device 100 or some othersuitable storage element in the mobile device 100. In at least someexample embodiments, some of the sent and received messages may bestored remotely from the device 100 such as in a data store of anassociated host system that the mobile device 100 communicates with.

The software applications can further include a device state module 140,a Personal Information Manager (PIM) 142, and other suitable modules(not shown). The device state module 140 provides persistence, i.e. thedevice state module 140 ensures that important device data is stored inpersistent memory, such as the flash memory 108, so that the data is notlost when the mobile device 100 is turned off or loses power.

The PIM 142 includes functionality for organizing and managing dataitems of interest to the user, such as, but not limited to, email,contacts, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. APIM application has the ability to send and receive data items via thewireless network 200. PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated,synchronized, and updated via the wireless network 200 with the mobiledevice subscriber's corresponding data items stored and/or associatedwith a host computer system. This functionality creates a mirrored hostcomputer on the mobile device 100 with respect to such items. This canbe particularly advantageous when the host computer system is the mobiledevice subscriber's office computer system.

The mobile device 100 also includes a connect module 144, and an ITpolicy module 146. The connect module 144 implements the communicationprotocols that are required for the mobile device 100 to communicatewith the wireless infrastructure and any host system, such as anenterprise system, that the mobile device 100 is authorized to interfacewith. Examples of a wireless infrastructure and an enterprise system aregiven in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are described in more detail below.

The connect module 144 includes a set of APIs that can be integratedwith the mobile device 100 to allow the mobile device 100 to use anynumber of services associated with the enterprise system. The connectmodule 144 allows the mobile device 100 to establish an end-to-endsecure, authenticated communication pipe with the host system. A subsetof applications for which access is provided by the connect module 144can be used to pass IT policy commands from the host system to themobile device 100. This can be done in a wireless or wired manner. Theseinstructions can then be passed to the IT policy module 146 to modifythe configuration of the device 100. Alternatively, in some cases, theIT policy update can also be done over a wired connection.

The IT policy module 146 receives IT policy data that encodes the ITpolicy. The IT policy module 146 then ensures that the IT policy data isauthenticated by the mobile device 100. The IT policy data can then bestored in the flash memory 106 in its native form. After the IT policydata is stored, a global notification can be sent by the IT policymodule 146 to all of the applications residing on the mobile device 100.Applications for which the IT policy may be applicable then respond byreading the IT policy data to look for IT policy rules that areapplicable.

The IT policy module 146 can include a parser (not shown), which can beused by the applications to read the IT policy rules. In some cases,another module or application can provide the parser. Grouped IT policyrules, described in more detail below, are retrieved as byte streams,which are then sent (recursively, in a sense) into the parser todetermine the values of each IT policy rule defined within the groupedIT policy rule. In at least some example embodiments, the IT policymodule 146 can determine which applications are affected by the ITpolicy data and send a notification to only those applications. Ineither of these cases, for applications that aren't running at the timeof the notification, the applications can call the parser or the ITpolicy module 146 when they are executed to determine if there are anyrelevant IT policy rules in the newly received IT policy data.

All applications that support rules in the IT Policy are coded to knowthe type of data to expect. For example, the value that is set for the“WEP User Name” IT policy rule is known to be a string; therefore thevalue in the IT policy data that corresponds to this rule is interpretedas a string. As another example, the setting for the “Set MaximumPassword Attempts” IT policy rule is known to be an integer, andtherefore the value in the IT policy data that corresponds to this ruleis interpreted as such.

After the IT policy rules have been applied to the applicableapplications or configuration files, the IT policy module 146 sends anacknowledgement back to the host system to indicate that the IT policydata was received and successfully applied.

Other types of software applications can also be installed on the mobiledevice 100. These software applications can be third party applications,which are added after the manufacture of the mobile device 100. Examplesof third party applications include games, calculators, utilities, etc.

The additional applications can be loaded onto the mobile device 100through at least one of the wireless network 200, the auxiliary I/Osubsystem 112, the data port 114, the short-range communicationssubsystem 122, or any other suitable device subsystem 124. Thisflexibility in application installation increases the functionality ofthe mobile device 100 and may provide enhanced on-device functions,communication-related functions, or both. For example, securecommunication applications may enable electronic commerce functions andother such financial transactions to be performed using the mobiledevice 100.

The data port 114 enables a subscriber to set preferences through anexternal device or software application and extends the capabilities ofthe mobile device 100 by providing for information or software downloadsto the mobile device 100 other than through a wireless communicationnetwork. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to loadan encryption key onto the mobile device 100 through a direct and thusreliable and trusted connection to provide secure device communication.

The data port 114 can be any suitable port that enables datacommunication between the mobile device 100 and another computingdevice. The data port 114 can be a serial or a parallel port. In someinstances, the data port 114 can be a USB port that includes data linesfor data transfer and a supply line that can provide a charging currentto charge the battery 130 of the mobile device 100.

The short-range communications subsystem 122 provides for communicationbetween the mobile device 100 and different systems or devices, withoutthe use of the wireless network 200. For example, the subsystem 122 mayinclude an infrared device and associated circuits and components forshort-range communication. Examples of short-range communicationstandards include standards developed by the Infrared Data Association(IrDA), Bluetooth, and the 802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE.

In use, a received signal such as a text message, an email message, orweb page download will be processed by the communication subsystem 104and input to the main processor 102. The main processor 102 will thenprocess the received signal for output to the display 110 oralternatively to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112. A subscriber may alsocompose data items, such as email messages, for example, using thekeyboard 116 in conjunction with the display 110 and possibly theauxiliary I/O subsystem 112. The auxiliary subsystem 112 may includedevices such as: a touch screen, mouse, track ball, infrared fingerprintdetector, or a roller wheel with dynamic button pressing capability. Thekeyboard 116 is preferably an alphanumeric keyboard and/ortelephone-type keypad. However, other types of keyboards may also beused. A composed item may be transmitted over the wireless network 200through the communication subsystem 104.

For voice communications, the overall operation of the mobile device 100is substantially similar, except that the received signals are output tothe speaker 118, and signals for transmission are generated by themicrophone 120. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as avoice message recording subsystem, can also be implemented on the mobiledevice 100. Although voice or audio signal output is accomplishedprimarily through the speaker 118, the display 110 can also be used toprovide additional information such as the identity of a calling party,duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an example block diagram of the communicationsubsystem component 104 is shown. The communication subsystem 104includes a receiver 150, a transmitter 152, as well as associatedcomponents such as one or more embedded or internal antenna elements 154and 156, Local Oscillators (LOs) 158, and a processing module such as aDigital Signal Processor (DSP) 160. The particular design of thecommunication subsystem 104 is dependent upon the communication network200 with which the mobile device 100 is intended to operate. Thus, itshould be understood that the design illustrated in FIG. 2 serves onlyas one example.

Signals received by the antenna 154 through the wireless network 200 areinput to the receiver 150, which may perform such common receiverfunctions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering,channel selection, and analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A/Dconversion of a received signal allows more complex communicationfunctions such as demodulation and decoding to be performed in the DSP160. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted are processed,including modulation and encoding, by the DSP 160. These DSP-processedsignals are input to the transmitter 152 for digital-to-analog (D/A)conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification andtransmission over the wireless network 200 via the antenna 156. The DSP160 not only processes communication signals, but also provides forreceiver and transmitter control. For example, the gains applied tocommunication signals in the receiver 150 and the transmitter 152 may beadaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithmsimplemented in the DSP 160.

The wireless link between the mobile device 100 and the wireless network200 can contain one or more different channels, typically different RFchannels, and associated protocols used between the mobile device 100and the wireless network 200. An RF channel is a limited resource thatmust be conserved, typically due to limits in overall bandwidth andlimited battery power of the mobile device 100.

When the mobile device 100 is fully operational, the transmitter 152 istypically keyed or turned on only when it is transmitting to thewireless network 200 and is otherwise turned off to conserve resources.Similarly, the receiver 150 is periodically turned off to conserve poweruntil it is needed to receive signals or information (if at all) duringdesignated time periods.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of an example implementation ofa node 202 of the wireless network 200 is shown. In practice, thewireless network 200 includes one or more nodes 202. In conjunction withthe connect module 144, the mobile device 100 can communicate with thenode 202 within the wireless network 200. In the example implementationof FIG. 3, the node 202 is configured in accordance with General PacketRadio Service (GPRS) and Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) technologies.The node 202 includes a base station controller (BSC) 204 with anassociated tower station 206, a Packet Control Unit (PCU) 208 added forGPRS support in GSM, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 210, a HomeLocation Register (HLR) 212, a Visitor Location Registry (VLR) 214, aServing GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 216, a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)218, and a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) 220. This list ofcomponents is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the components ofevery node 202 within a GSM/GPRS network, but rather a list ofcomponents that are commonly used in communications through the network200.

In a GSM network, the MSC 210 is coupled to the BSC 204 and to alandline network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 222to satisfy circuit switched requirements. The connection through the PCU208, the SGSN 216 and the GGSN 218 to a public or private network(Internet) 224 (also referred to herein generally as a shared networkinfrastructure) represents the data path for GPRS capable mobiledevices. In a GSM network extended with GPRS capabilities, the BSC 204also contains the Packet Control Unit (PCU) 208 that connects to theSGSN 216 to control segmentation, radio channel allocation and tosatisfy packet switched requirements. To track the location of themobile device 100 and availability for both circuit switched and packetswitched management, the HLR 212 is shared between the MSC 210 and theSGSN 216. Access to the VLR 214 is controlled by the MSC 210.

The station 206 is a fixed transceiver station and together with the BSC204 form fixed transceiver equipment. The fixed transceiver equipmentprovides wireless network coverage for a particular coverage areacommonly referred to as a “cell.” The fixed transceiver equipmenttransmits communication signals to and receives communication signalsfrom mobile devices within its cell via the station 206. The fixedtransceiver equipment normally performs such functions as modulation andpossibly encoding and/or encryption of signals to be transmitted to themobile device 100 in accordance with particular, usually predetermined,communication protocols and parameters, under control of its controller.The fixed transceiver equipment similarly demodulates and possiblydecodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals receivedfrom the mobile device 100 within its cell. Communication protocols andparameters may vary between different nodes. For example, one node mayemploy a different modulation scheme and operate at differentfrequencies than other nodes.

For all mobile devices 100 registered with a specific network, permanentconfiguration data such as a user profile is stored in the HLR 212. TheHLR 212 also contains location information for each registered mobiledevice and can be queried to determine the current location of a mobiledevice. The MSC 210 is responsible for a group of location areas andstores the data of the mobile devices currently in its area ofresponsibility in the VLR 214. Further, the VLR 214 also containsinformation on mobile devices that are visiting other networks. Theinformation in the VLR 214 includes part of the permanent mobile devicedata transmitted from the HLR 212 to the VLR 214 for faster access. Bymoving additional information from a remote HLR 212 node to the VLR 214,the amount of traffic between these nodes can be reduced so that voiceand data services can be provided with faster response times and at thesame time requiring less use of computing resources.

The SGSN 216 and the GGSN 218 are elements added for GPRS support,namely packet switched data support, within GSM. The SGSN 216 and theMSC 210 have similar responsibilities within the wireless network 200 bykeeping track of the location of each mobile device 100. The SGSN 216also performs security functions and access control for data traffic onthe wireless network 200. The GGSN 218 provides internetworkingconnections with external packet switched networks and connects to oneor more SGSN's 216 via an Internet Protocol (IP) backbone networkoperated within the network 200. During normal operations, a givenmobile device 100 must perform a “GPRS Attach” to acquire an IP addressand to access data services. This requirement is not present in circuitswitched voice channels as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)addresses are used for routing incoming and outgoing calls. Currently,all GPRS capable networks use private, dynamically assigned IPaddresses, thus requiring the DHCP server 220 connected to the GGSN 218.There are many mechanisms for dynamic IP assignment, including using acombination of a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)server and a DHCP server. Once the GPRS Attach is complete, a logicalconnection is established from a mobile device 100, through the PCU 208,and the SGSN 216 to an Access Point Node (APN) within the GGSN 218. TheAPN represents a logical end of an IP tunnel that can either accessdirect Internet compatible services or private network connections. TheAPN also represents a security mechanism for the network 200, insofar aseach mobile device 100 must be assigned to one or more APNs and mobiledevices 100 cannot exchange data without first performing a GPRS Attachto an APN that it has been authorized to use. The APN may be consideredto be similar to an Internet domain name such as“myconnection.wireless.com”.

Once the GPRS Attach operation is complete, a tunnel is created and alltraffic is exchanged within standard IP packets using any protocol thatcan be supported in IP packets. This includes tunneling methods such asIP over IP as in the case with some IPSecurity (IPsec) connections usedwith Virtual Private Networks (VPN). These tunnels are also referred toas Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Contexts and there are a limited number ofthese available in the network 200. To maximize use of the PDP Contexts,the network 200 will run an idle timer for each PDP Context to determineif there is a lack of activity. When a mobile device 100 is not usingits PDP Context, the PDP Context can be de-allocated and the IP addressreturned to the IP address pool managed by the DHCP server 220.

Referring now to FIG. 4, shown therein is a block diagram illustratingcomponents of an example configuration of a host system 250 that themobile device 100 can communicate with in conjunction with the connectmodule 144. The host system 250 will typically be a corporate enterpriseor other local area network (LAN), but may also be a home officecomputer or some other private system, for example, in variantimplementations. In this example shown in FIG. 4, the host system 250 isdepicted as a LAN of an organization to which a user of the mobiledevice 100 belongs. Typically, a plurality of mobile devices cancommunicate wirelessly with the host system 250 through one or morenodes 202 of the wireless network 200.

The host system 250 includes a number of network components connected toeach other by a network 260. For instance, a user's desktop computer 262a with an accompanying cradle 264 for the user's mobile device 100 issituated on a LAN connection. The cradle 264 for the mobile device 100can be coupled to the computer 262 a by a serial or a Universal SerialBus (USB) connection, for example. Other user computers 262 b-262 n arealso situated on the network 260, and each may or may not be equippedwith an accompanying cradle 264. The cradle 264 facilitates the loadingof information (e.g., PIM data, private symmetric encryption keys tofacilitate secure communications) from the user computer 262 a to themobile device 100, and may be particularly useful for bulk informationupdates often performed in initializing the mobile device 100 for use.The information downloaded to the mobile device 100 may includecertificates used in the exchange of messages.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that the usercomputers 262 a-262 n will typically also be connected to otherperipheral devices, such as printers, etc. which are not explicitlyshown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, only a subset of network components of thehost system 250 are shown in FIG. 4 for ease of exposition, and it willbe understood by persons skilled in the art that the host system 250will comprise additional components that are not explicitly shown inFIG. 4 for this example configuration. More generally, the host system250 may represent a smaller part of a larger network (not shown) of theorganization, and may comprise different components and/or be arrangedin different topologies than that shown in the example embodiment ofFIG. 4.

To facilitate the operation of the mobile device 100 and the wirelesscommunication of messages and message-related data between the mobiledevice 100 and components of the host system 250, a number of wirelesscommunication support components 270 can be provided. In someimplementations, the wireless communication support components 270 caninclude a message management server 272, a mobile data server 274, acontact server 276, and a device manager module 278. The device managermodule 278 includes an IT Policy editor 280 and an IT user propertyeditor 282, as well as other software components for allowing an ITadministrator to configure the mobile devices 100. In an alternativeexample embodiment, there may be one editor that provides thefunctionality of both the IT policy editor 280 and the IT user propertyeditor 282. The support components 270 also include a data store 284,and an IT policy server 286. The IT policy server 286 includes aprocessor 288, a network interface 290 and a memory unit 292. Theprocessor 288 controls the operation of the IT policy server 286 andexecutes functions related to the standardized IT policy as describedbelow. The network interface 290 allows the IT policy server 286 tocommunicate with the various components of the host system 250 and themobile devices 100. The memory unit 292 can store functions used inimplementing the IT policy as well as related data. Those skilled in theart know how to implement these various components. Other components mayalso be included as is well known to those skilled in the art. Further,in some implementations, the data store 284 can be part of any one ofthe servers.

In this example embodiment, the mobile device 100 communicates with thehost system 250 through node 202 of the wireless network 200 and ashared network infrastructure 224 such as a service provider network orthe public Internet. Access to the host system 250 may be providedthrough one or more routers (not shown), and computing devices of thehost system 250 may operate from behind a firewall or proxy server 266.The proxy server 266 provides a secure node and a wireless internetgateway for the host system 250. The proxy server 266 intelligentlyroutes data to the correct destination server within the host system250.

In some implementations, the host system 250 can include a wireless VPNrouter (not shown) to facilitate data exchange between the host system250 and the mobile device 100. The wireless VPN router allows a VPNconnection to be established directly through a specific wirelessnetwork to the mobile device 100. The wireless VPN router can be usedwith the Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6 (IPV6) and IP-based wirelessnetworks. This protocol can provide enough IP addresses so that eachmobile device has a dedicated IP address, making it possible to pushinformation to a mobile device at any time. An advantage of using awireless VPN router is that it can be an off-the-shelf VPN component,and does not require a separate wireless gateway and separate wirelessinfrastructure. A VPN connection can preferably be a TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP)/IP or User Datagram Protocol (UDP)/IP connectionfor delivering the messages directly to the mobile device 100 in thisalternative implementation.

Messages intended for a user of the mobile device 100 are initiallyreceived by a message server 268 of the host system 250. Such messagesmay originate from any number of sources. For instance, a message mayhave been sent by a sender from the computer 262 b within the hostsystem 250, from a different mobile device (not shown) connected to thewireless network 200 or a different wireless network, or from adifferent computing device, or other device capable of sending messages,via the shared network infrastructure 224, possibly through anapplication service provider (ASP) or Internet service provider (ISP),for example.

The message server 268 typically acts as the primary interface for theexchange of messages, particularly email messages, within theorganization and over the shared network infrastructure 224. Each userin the organization that has been set up to send and receive messages istypically associated with a user account managed by the message server268. Some example implementations of the message server 268 include aMicrosoft Exchange™ server, a Lotus Domino™ server, a Novell Groupwise™server, or another suitable mail server installed in a corporateenvironment. In some implementations, the host system 250 may comprisemultiple message servers 268. The message server 268 may also be adaptedto provide additional functions beyond message management, including themanagement of data associated with calendars and task lists, forexample.

When messages are received by the message server 268, they are typicallystored in a data store associated with the message server 268. In atleast some example embodiments, the data store may be a separatehardware unit, such as data store 284, that the message server 268communicates with. Messages can be subsequently retrieved and deliveredto users by accessing the message server 268. For instance, an emailclient application operating on a user's computer 262 a may request theemail messages associated with that user's account stored on the datastore associated with the message server 268. These messages are thenretrieved from the data store and stored locally on the computer 262 a.The data store associated with the message server 268 can store copiesof each message that is locally stored on the mobile device 100.Alternatively, the data store associated with the message server 268 canstore all of the messages for the user of the mobile device 100 and onlya smaller number of messages can be stored on the mobile device 100 toconserve memory. For instance, the most recent messages (i.e., thosereceived in the past two to three months for example) can be stored onthe mobile device 100.

When operating the mobile device 100, the user may wish to have emailmessages retrieved for delivery to the mobile device 100. The messageapplication 138 operating on the mobile device 100 may also requestmessages associated with the user's account from the message server 268.The message application 138 may be configured (either by the user or byan administrator, possibly in accordance with an organization'sinformation technology (IT) policy) to make this request at thedirection of the user, at some pre-defined time interval, or upon theoccurrence of some pre-defined event. In some implementations, themobile device 100 is assigned its own email address, and messagesaddressed specifically to the mobile device 100 are automaticallyredirected to the mobile device 100 as they are received by the messageserver 268.

The message management server 272 can be used to specifically providesupport for the management of messages, such as email messages, that areto be handled by mobile devices. Generally, while messages are stillstored on the message server 268, the message management server 272 canbe used to control when, if, and how messages are sent to the mobiledevice 100. The message management server 272 also facilitates thehandling of messages composed on the mobile device 100, which are sentto the message server 268 for subsequent delivery.

For example, the message management server 272 may monitor the user's“mailbox” (e.g., the message store associated with the user's account onthe message server 268) for new email messages, and apply user-definablefilters to new messages to determine if and how the messages are relayedto the user's mobile device 100. The message management server 272 mayalso compress and encrypt new messages (e.g., using an encryptiontechnique such as Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES, orAdvanced Encryption Standard (AES)) and push them to the mobile device100 via the shared network infrastructure 224 and the wireless network200. The message management server 272 may also receive messagescomposed on the mobile device 100 (e.g., encrypted using Triple DES),decrypt and decompress the composed messages, re-format the composedmessages if desired so that they will appear to have originated from theuser's computer 262 a, and re-route the composed messages to the messageserver 268 for delivery.

Certain properties or restrictions associated with messages that are tobe sent from and/or received by the mobile device 100 can be defined(e.g., by an administrator in accordance with IT policy) and enforced bythe message management server 272. These may include whether the mobiledevice 100 may receive encrypted and/or signed messages, minimumencryption key sizes, whether outgoing messages must be encrypted and/orsigned, and whether copies of all secure messages sent from the mobiledevice 100 are to be sent to a pre-defined copy address, for example.

The message management server 272 may also be adapted to provide othercontrol functions, such as only pushing certain message information orpre-defined portions (e.g., “blocks”) of a message stored on the messageserver 268 to the mobile device 100. For example, in some cases, when amessage is initially retrieved by the mobile device 100 from the messageserver 268, the message management server 272 may push only the firstpart of a message to the mobile device 100, with the part being of apre-defined size (e.g., 2 KB). The user can then request that more ofthe message be delivered in similar-sized blocks by the messagemanagement server 272 to the mobile device 100, possibly up to a maximumpredefined message size. Accordingly, the message management server 272facilitates better control over the type of data and the amount of datathat is communicated to the mobile device 100, and can help to minimizepotential waste of bandwidth or other resources.

The mobile data server 274 encompasses any other server that storesinformation that is relevant to the corporation. The mobile data server274 may include, but is not limited to, databases, online data documentrepositories, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, orenterprise resource planning (ERP) applications.

The contact server 276 can provide information for a list of contactsfor the user in a similar fashion as the address book on the mobiledevice 100. Accordingly, for a given contact, the contact server 276 caninclude the name, phone number, work address and email address of thecontact, among other information. The contact server 276 can alsoprovide a global address list that contains the contact information forall of the contacts associated with the host system 250.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that the messagemanagement server 272, the mobile data server 274, the contact server276, the device manager module 278, the data store 284 and the IT policyserver 286 do not need to be implemented on separate physical serverswithin the host system 250. For example, some or all of the functionsassociated with the message management server 272 may be integrated withthe message server 268, or some other server in the host system 250.Alternatively, the host system 250 may comprise multiple messagemanagement servers 272, particularly in variant implementations where alarge number of mobile devices need to be supported.

Alternatively, in some example embodiments, the IT policy server 286 canprovide the IT policy editor 280, the IT user property editor 282 andthe data store 284. In some cases, the IT policy server 286 can alsoprovide the device manager module 278. The processor 288 of the ITpolicy server 286 can be used to perform the various steps of a methodfor providing IT policy data that is customizable on a per-user basis.The processor 288 can execute the editors 280 and 282. In some cases,the functionality of the editors 280 and 282 can be provided by a singleeditor. In some cases, the memory unit 292 can provide the data store284.

The device manager module 278 provides an IT administrator with agraphical user interface with which the IT administrator interacts toconfigure various settings for the mobile devices 100. As mentioned, theIT administrator can use IT policy rules to define behaviors of certainapplications on the mobile device 100 that are permitted such as phone,web browser or Instant Messenger use. The IT policy rules can also beused to set specific values for configuration settings that anorganization requires on the mobile devices 100 such as auto signaturetext, WLAN/VoIP/VPN configuration, security requirements (e.g.,encryption algorithms, password rules, etc.), specifying themes orapplications that are allowed to run on the mobile device 100, and thelike.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functional components of the mobilewireless communications device similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but alsoshowing added components with functionality that can be used as ahandicap option. The mobile wireless communications device can be usedby hearing and/or speech-impaired users in accordance with anon-limiting aspect. For this description of the handicap options andfunctional components, including a user interface as a set up wizard,reference numerals begin in the 300 series.

As shown in FIG. 5, the software operating system 134 works inconjunction with different software programs 136, which can include ahandicap module 300 as a software program that operates with variouscomponents as part of the other added device subsystems 124. Thesesubsystems can include a text-to-speech/speech-to-text converter module302 that interoperates with the keyboard 116 and display such as part ofthe auxiliary I/O 112. A light emitting diode (LED) module 304interoperates with LED's positioned on the front of the mobile wirelesscommunications device such as explained later with reference to FIG. 6.A video/webcam module 306 interoperates with the display and digitalcamera device (as part of auxiliary I/O 112) positioned on the front ofthe mobile wireless communications device explained below relative toFIG. 6. It should be understood that each of the modules 302, 304, 306can be separate processors or a sub-unit of the main processor 302, anapplication software module as associated with the operating software,part of a handicap module 300 or any combination.

The handicap module 300 can incorporate software code from differentoperating software, including C++ for code. The handicap module 300 anddevice subsystem 124 operate together to facilitate a phone conversationfor hearing impaired and/or speech challenged users. In the exampleembodiment shown in FIG. 5, any received phone call can be translatedwithin the mobile wireless communications device and text displayed,enabling a speech-impaired user to read a voice conversation. Inresponse, the user can type text that is converted to communicationsdata as voice and transmitted on an RF signal back to the other user ata remote location such as another user in a phonee conversation. This isespecially relevant when the hearing impaired user is also speechimpaired, making a response difficult. As an adjunct to thetext-to-speech/speech-to-text conversion, it is possible to activate theLED module 304 such that LED's positioned on the front cover of themobile wireless communications device would display lights indicative ofspeech, for example, as a pattern similar to Morse code. Not only couldtext be displayed, but also lights turned on or off indicative of acertain pattern of speech. Different colors could be used. Also, themain processor 102 and other device subsystems 124 could process thespeech-to-text conversion to display lights in a certain pattern such asMorse code to assist the hearing impaired. A button as an input such asa track ball could be pressed for transmitting Morse code type signalsor similar signals indicate of voice in addition to transmittingletters, which are displayed on the screen. For example, while text isbeing typed, light emitting diodes could blink in a pattern indicativeof the letters or words being typed to assist the user.

The video/webcam module 306 interoperates with the display and digitalcamera (shown and explained in greater detail in FIG. 6) such that auser can receive text that had been processed in thetext-to-speech/speechtotext converter module 302. The user holds themobile wireless communications device somewhat parallel to their bodyand engages in sign language communication that can be transmitted asvideo back to another user.

The mobile wireless communications device overcomes the drawbacks ofknown services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals that use a relaysystem that allows a user to contact a communication assistant via anapplication that is typically downloaded into the mobile wirelesscommunications device. In that system, a user provides a contact numberfor a desired hearing-able, human agent contact and communicates withthis human agent contact via a “chat” screen into which the user cantype their messages. The communication assistant relays messages totheir destination and transfers the contact's response back to text tothe hard-of-hearing user via the “chat” screen, thus, establishingtwo-way, text-to-speech and speech-to-text communication. The mobilewireless communications device as described relative to FIGS. 1-5 andFIGS. 6-8 obviates the necessity for using a third party communicationassistant as a live person agent and the process is instead automated.

It is possible for some of the functionality as described to beimplemented on the server side instead of the mobile wirelesscommunications device as described relative to FIG. 5. For example, someof the processing such as shown in the other device subsystems 124 ofFIG. 5, for example, the text-to-speech/speech-to-text converter module302, LED module 304, and video/webcam module 306 could be implemented inthe server side, for example, within a node 202 as shown in FIG. 3. Anexample could be software functionality or system circuitry incorporatedin the MSC 210 or BSC 204 as non-limiting examples.

It should be understood that hearing impaired people can communicateusing many mechanisms such as “reading text,” reading lips, andvisualizing changes to light patterns. The system and mobile wirelesscommunications device as described encompasses these mechanisms. Thehearing impaired person does not need to be initiating the call and themobile wireless communications device through its set up wizard orpreprogramming is aware that the owner is hearing impaired.

For example, a setting inside the phone such as part of the softwareoperating system in conjunction with the handicap module 306 couldindicate the physical challenges the owner may have. In accordance withthe specific other device subsystems 124 and the special hardwarecircuits or modules, the mobile wireless communications device couldhave special circuitry adapted for specific users that are handicappedwith any physical challenges, such as being hearing impaired and/orspeech challenged. For those that have difficulty seeing and hearing,the use of the light emitting diodes positioned on the front cover ofthe mobile wireless communications device would be helpful inconjunction with the text-to-speech/speech-to-text implementation.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a mobile wireless communications device320 as a non-limiting example and shows five light emitting diodes 308positioned above the display as a yellow, green, white, red and blueLED's and referred to by the initials Y, G, W, R and B and connected tothe processor 102 and module 304. A digital camera 312 is positionedabove the display 322 as illustrated and could be similarly formed as acamera that typically is positioned on the rear surface (not shown) ofthe mobile wireless communications device 320 that is used for takingpictures and video images and using the display 322 as a view finder.The camera 312 is connected to the processor 102 in this example and tomodule 306.

A brief description will now proceed relative to FIG. 6, which shows anexample of the mobile wireless communications device 320, for example, ahandheld portable radio device, which can incorporate as non-limitingexamples the various mobile device circuits of the mobile devicedescribed above relative to FIGS. 1-5.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an example of the mobile wirelesscommunications device 320 illustratively includes a housing 321 havingan upper portion 346 and a lower portion 347, and typically carries adielectric substrate, i.e., circuit board (not shown), such as aconventional printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. The circuit boardcan be any dielectric substrate, PCB, ceramic substrate or other circuitcarrying structure for carrying signal circuits and electroniccomponents within the mobile wireless communications device 320. Theillustrated housing 321 is typically a static housing, for example, asopposed to a flip or sliding housing, which is used in many similarmobile devices and cellular telephones. However, these flip and slidingand other housing configurations may also be used.

Circuitry as described relative to the mobile device description inFIGS. 1-5 is carried by the circuit board. It should be understood thatany keyboard circuitry could be on a separate keyboard, etc., as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art. A battery (not shown) is alsopreferably carried by the housing 121 for supplying power to anycircuitry. The circuit board typically carries a main antenna (notshown) at the lower end of the housing. It could carry other antennaesuch as a diversity antenna at the upper end of the housing or at otherlocations.

Furthermore, an audio output transducer 314 (e.g., a speaker) is carriedby an upper portion 346 of the housing 121 and connected to the internalcircuitry. One or more user input interface devices, such as a keypad(keyboard) 323 is also preferably carried by the housing 321 andconnected to the internal circuitry. The term keypad 323 as used hereinalso refers to the term keyboard, indicating the user input deviceshaving lettered and/or numbered keys commonly known and other exampleembodiments, including multi-top or predictive entry modes as shown inthis example. Other examples of user input interface devices include atrack ball 337 and convenience keys 336, which could be positioned onthe left and right sides of the housing. Around the track ball 337 arepositioned other user input keys such as the green send (or receive) key338 a, menu key 338 b, escape key 338 c, and the red end/power key 338d. In one example, upon receiving an incoming call or communication,when the handicapped user presses the green send (or receive) key, thedevice automatically invokes the handicap feature for speech-to-text andtext-to-speech. Of courser it will be appreciated that other user inputinterface devices (e.g., a stylus or touch screen interface) may be usedin other example embodiments. Other input interface devices could beused, for example, a mute/standby key, volume key or other menu key. Thehousing could incorporate headset pads, USB ports, media card slots andother similar keys or inputs.

Another antenna such as a diversity antenna or a WiFi or WLAN (e.g.,Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11) antenna can provide WLAN communicationcapabilities and/or a satellite positioning system (e.g., GPS, Galileoretc.) antenna for providing position location capabilities, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art. Other examples of auxiliary I/Odevices 112 in FIG. 1 and described before could include the audiooutput transducer 314 (e.g., a speaker for speaker phone operation), andanother digital camera lens (not shown) positioned on the rear surfaceof the device for providing digital camera capabilities to a user suchas when photographing events or people and using the display as aviewer, an electrical device connector (e.g., USB, headphone, securedigital (SD) or memory card, etc.).

It should be noted that the term “input/output” as used herein for theauxiliary I/O device(s) means that such devices may have input and/oroutput capabilities, and they need not provide both in all exampleembodiments. That is, devices such as camera lenses may only receive anoptical input, for example, while a headphone jack may only provide anaudio output.

The mobile wireless communications device 320 further includes thedisplay 322 as noted before, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD)carried by the housing 321 and connected to the internal circuitrydescribed relative to FIGS. 1-5, and more particularly, to the processor102 and modules 302 and 306. Convenience keys 336 and the track ball 337can also be connected to the internal circuitry for allowing a user tonavigate menus, text, etc., as will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art. The track ball 337 may also be referred to as a “thumb wheel”or a “track wheel” in some instances and positioned in differentlocations depending on mobile device design. The keypad 323 is typicallyconnected to the processor 102 and module 302 and 304 illustrativelyincludes a plurality of multi-symbol keys 324 each having indicia of aplurality of respective symbols thereon. The keypad 323 alsoillustratively includes an alternate function key 325, a space key 327,a shift key 328, a return (or enter) key 329, and a backspace/delete key330. Other keys are also illustrated.

As seen in FIG. 6, the multi-symbol keys 324 are arranged in the rows onthe keypad 323. Furthermore, the letter symbols on each of the keys 324are arranged to define a QWERTY layout. That is, the letters on thekeypad 323 are presented in a three-row format, with the letters of eachrow being in the same order and relative position as in a standardQWERTY keypad. Each row of keys can be arranged in columns.

Accordingly, the mobile wireless communications device 120 as describedmay advantageously be used not only as a traditional cellular phone, butit may also be conveniently used for sending and/or receiving data overa cellular or other network, such as Internet and email data, forexample as explained above relative to FIGS. 1-5. Of course, otherkeypad configurations may also be used in other example embodiments.Multi-tap or predictive entry modes may be used for typing emails, etc.as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The mobile wireless communications device shown in FIG. 6 and describedrelative to FIGS. 1-5 can incorporate email and messaging accounts andprovide different functions such as composing email, PIM messages, andSMS messages as described above relative to FIGS. 1-5. The device 302can manage messages through an appropriate menu that can be retrieved bychoosing various icons, for example, a messages icon. An address bookfunction could add contacts, allow management of an address book, setaddress book options and manage SIM card phone books. A phone menu couldallow for the making and answering of phone calls using different phonefeatures, managing phone call logs, setting phone options, and viewingphone information. A browser application could permit the browsing ofweb pages, configuring a browser, adding bookmarks, and changing browseroptions. Other applications could include a task, memo pad, calculator,alarm and games, as well as handheld options with various references.

A calendar icon can be chosen for entering a calendar program that canbe used for establishing and managing events such as meetings orappointments. The calendar program could be any type of messaging orappointment/meeting program that allows an organizer to establish anevent, for example, an appointment or meeting.

With the circuitry as described relative to FIGS. 1-5, the mobilewireless communications device 320 can be aware that the owner (or user)is hearing impaired such as when a wizard set up menu is established andthe phone (or mobile device) is set up for a specific handicapped orhearing impaired individual. As an example, for the incoming phone call,for example, the green send button 338 a can automatically enablespeech-to-text behavior. For example, when the green send button 338 ais pressed for answering an initial phone call and the user is hearingimpaired, the phone can be programmed through the handicap module 300 orother module 302 to send automatically a greeting such as “hello.” Whenthe red end button 338 d is depressed after a phone conversation isended, a “thank you” could be sent. This could be advantageous when ahandicapped user does not want to allow the initiator of a phone call onthe other end to know that the one user is handicapped. Of course, theuser would have to be a fast typist in order to make any conversationsound plausible as if the handicapped user were not handicapped. Also,the communication system would have to be bidirectional to allowintermixed conversation even when text is being typed and voice ispassing from the other user and being converted into text.

All incoming calls can automatically be displayed in text format.Two-way communication such as speech-to-text on the hearing-impairedperson's side or text-to-speech on the non-challenged person's sideworks automatically. It is possible to support full conference callingabilities and call waiting abilities. If multiple people are talking toa hearing impaired person, the mobile wireless communications device 320can handle the calls automatically. It should be understood that themobile wireless communications device 320 is not strictly limited totext. Every challenged person can have their own strengths and onechallenged person can configure their phone to use a “text” option whileothers could prefer to read lips where a virtual person speaks theconversation on the device display 322, thereby allowing the person whoreads lips to use the phone as well. A virtual person could display signlanguage also. This could be an adjunct to text-to-speech andspeech-to-text conversion capability in which not only could variouswords be displayed, but also a virtual person would display lips as ahelp aid. Other users could prefer light pattern changes with themultiple LED's 308 in the mobile wireless communications device. TheLED's 308 could change light or color patterns for hearing impairedpersons such as giving specific color patterns or Morse code signals.Morse code is relatively easy and speech could be converted to textand/or Morse code signals as an aid.

Because phones have digital cameras, an individual could speak to ahearing impaired person using video webcam capabilities, therebyallowing the hearing impaired person to read lips such as with videoconferencing capabilities or see hang sign language patterns. Toaccomplish this, the mobile wireless communications device of anon-challenged person could inform the owner that the other end ishearing impaired and has requested lip-reading or hand sign languagepatterns. A webcam or other video camera could automatically turn on andenable the communication. As an adjunct to this, it is possible to havereal-time interpretation of sign language capabilities. Part of anengine as the video/webcam circuit 306 could convert speech to signlanguage or a pair of lips displayed using the virtual person asdescribed before or convert sign language speech in real-time.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are non-limiting examples of how an interface and set upwizard could be used for enabling a phone in a specific manner for ahandicapped or challenged individual. Also, the device 320 could beimplemented to default to various handicap options. For example, thetrack ball 337 could be pressed to enable certain graphical items to beselected on the display 322 as a graphical user interface and a set upwizard as shown in FIG. 7, having different options as non-limitingexamples to be selected and allow set up of a preferred handicapfunction for a hearing impaired and/or speech impaired user. Forexample, the second to last option before the help option as shown inFIG. 7 is a set up handicap option that could be selected. In responseto selecting the set up handicap option in FIG. 7, a welcome screencould be displayed for the handicap set up and various options displayedsuch as the text-to-speech/speech-to-text option with an adjunct thatcould be selected such as the LED assist and video/webcam circuitryenabled and as described above.

It should be understood that different synthesized speech and convertercircuits can be used. A database could also be used to store sounds andwords to assist in increasing the processing speed. The processor couldbe capable of processing received communications data as voice anddetermining if voice quality is good or if voice quality is difficult tounderstand and convert to text and turn the module 302 on or off asnecessary. It is possible to generate voice extensible mark-up language(XML) data based on content that can be later transformed to speech.Speech synthesizer instructions could use packet technology. Theprocessor could process packets and adjust fragmentation as necessary.

FIG. 9 shows a method of communicating. A mobile wireless communicationsdevice receives a radio frequency (REF) signal carrying communicationsdata of speech from another user operating a communications device(Block 400). The communications data of speech is processed andconverted to text data (Block 402). The text is displayed on a displayof the communications device (Block 404). In reply to the displayed textcorresponding to the speech of the other user, text is typed as a reply(Block 406). The typed text is converted to communications data ofspeech (Block 408). The communications data of speech is transmitted tothe other user operating a communications device (Block 410).

Many modifications and other example embodiments of the invention willcome to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific example embodiments disclosed, and thatmodifications and example embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims.

1. A mobile wireless communications device, comprising: a transceiverconfigured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals carryingcommunications data of speech; a keyboard; a display; an adjunctcomprising at least one of a speaker, LED, camera, and video module; aprocessor coupled to the adjunct, keyboard, display and transceiver andconfigured to: process the communications data of speech that istransmitted and received to and from the transceiver; convertcommunications data as speech received from the transceiver to text thatis displayed on the display; convert text received at the keyboard intocommunications data of speech to be transmitted from the transceiver onan RF signal; and configure the adjunct to supplement the speech-to-textand text-to-speech conversion.
 2. The mobile wireless communicationsdevice according to claim 1, wherein said display provides an interfaceand said processor is configured for displaying a set up screen having ahandicap option that is user selected for enabling the speech-to-textand text-to-speech module.
 3. The mobile wireless communications deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the handicap option comprises a defaultsetting.
 4. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim1, wherein said adjunct comprises a speaker carried by the housing andcoupled to the processor for outputting audio speech received ascommunications data in addition to displaying the speech as text on thedisplay.
 5. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim1, and further comprising a key that is depressed that automaticallygenerates a signal as communications data for speech indicative of agreeting in a telephone call and a key that is depressed thatautomatically generates a signal as communications data for speechindicative of ending a telephone call.
 6. The mobile wirelesscommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said adjunctcomprises a light emitting diode (LED) carried by the housing andcoupled to the processor, wherein said processor is configured forgenerating a signal to the LED for activating the LED and displaying alight pattern indicative of speech.
 7. The mobile wirelesscommunications device according to claim 6, and further comprising aplurality of LED's carried by the housing and each of a different colorfrom another LED such that a color-coded light pattern is indicative ofspeech.
 8. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim1, wherein said speech-to-text and text-to-speech module comprises aspeech-to-text and text-to-speech processing circuit coupled to theprocessor.
 9. The mobile wireless communications device according toclaim 1, wherein said speech-to-text and text-to-speech module comprisesan application cooperating with operating software.
 10. The mobilewireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein saidadjunct comprises a processor configured for converting speech to avirtual attendant displayed on the display that displays video of signlanguage patterns or lips indicative of the received speech.
 11. Themobile wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein saidadjunct comprises a camera carried by housing and coupled to theprocessor and configured for receiving images of a user allowing a userto transmit sign language video.
 12. A mobile wireless communicationsdevice, comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit and receiveradio frequency (RF) signals carrying communications data of speech; akeyboard; a display; an adjunct comprising at least one of a speaker,LED, camera and video module; a processor coupled to the adjunct,keyboard, display and transceiver and configured to: process thecommunications data of speech that is transmitted and received to andfrom the transceiver; convert communications data as speech receivedfrom the transceiver to text that is displayed on the display; converttext that is received at the keyboard into communications data of speechto be transmitted from the transceiver as an RF signal; configure theadjunct to supplement the speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion;and wherein said display provides an interface and the processor isconfigured for displaying a set up screen on the display having ahandicap option that is user selected for enabling the speech-to-textand text-to-speech module.
 13. The mobile wireless communications deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the handicap option comprises a defaultsetting.
 14. The mobile wireless communications device according toclaim 12, wherein said adjunct comprises a plurality of LED's carried bythe housing and each of a different color from another LED such that acolor-coded light pattern is indicative of speech.
 15. The mobilewireless communications device according to claim 12, wherein saidadjunct comprises a processor configured for converting speech todisplay data as a virtual attendant that is displayed on the display todisplay video of sign language patterns or lips indicative of thereceived speech.
 16. The mobile wireless communications device accordingto claim 15, wherein the interface includes a handicap option forenabling the virtual attendant to be displayed.
 17. The mobile wirelesscommunications device according to claim 12, wherein said adjunctcomprises a camera carried by housing and coupled to the processor andconfigured for receiving images of the user and allowing a user totransmit sign language video.
 18. The mobile wireless communicationsdevice according to claim 17, wherein the interface includes a handicapoption for enabling the camera.
 19. The mobile wireless communicationsdevice according to claim 12, wherein said adjunct comprises a lightemitting diode (LED) carried by the housing and coupled to theprocessor, wherein said processor is configured for generating a signalto the LED for activating the LED and displaying a light patternindicative of speech.
 20. The mobile wireless communications deviceaccording to claim 19, and optionally selecting an LED option to enableLED operation.
 21. A method of communicating, comprising: receiving at amobile wireless communications device a radio frequency (RF) signalcarrying communications data of speech from another user operating acommunications device; processing the communications data of speech andconverting the speech to text data; displaying the text on a display ofthe communications device; in reply to the displayed text correspondingto the speech of the other user, typing text as a reply; converting thetyped text to communications data of speech; transmitting thecommunications data of speech to the other user operating acommunications device; and configuring an adjunct comprising at leastone of a speaker, LED, camera and video module and integral with themobile wireless communications device to supplement the speech-to-textand text-to-speech conversion.
 22. The method according claim 21, andfurther comprising interfacing with a display screen having a handicapoption for enabling the speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion.23. The method according claim 21, and further comprising depressing akey when answering that automatically generates a signal ascommunications data for speech indicative of a greeting and depressing akey when ending a call that automatically generates a signal ascommunications data for speech indicative of ending a telephone call.24. The method according claim 21, and further comprising activating theadjunct as a light emitting diode (LED) and displaying a light patternindicative of speech.
 25. The method according claim 24, and furthercomprising displaying different colors from a plurality of LED'sindicative of speech.
 26. The method according to claim 21, and furthercomprising activating the adjunct to display a virtual attendant on adisplay screen that displays sign language patterns or lips indicativeof speech.